MUST The Show Go On?

Melaleuca.  You may or may not have heard of this company, but the name is everywhere in Idaho Falls.

Melaleuca field, home of our baseball team.

The Melaleuca offices downtown.

And the famous Melaleuca freedom celebration, touted as the largest fireworks show west of the Mississippi.

I am not a fan.  Particularly because of the company's owner and founder, and his influence over this town.  I've blogged about this topic before, but this year's celebration was even more horrible than years past.

July 4th, 2013.  The fireworks show is an all-day prep.  People camp out the best spots in parks and along the river, to see the amazing show.  I refuse to participate, but spectators around the 100,000 mark come to see this show, from all over.

Before the events started, rumors swirl of a delay.  A local radio station (under the Vandersloot umbrella) posts on facebook confirming the delay.  Missing teenager in the river, search & rescue called, fireworks delayed.

People understood, and began to pray and send positive thoughts for the teen and his family.  Shortly after:

"UPDATE: 3 teenagers were missing in the river at the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration. 2 have been found, 1 is unaccounted for. Search and rescue crews are still on scene. The fireworks will continue to be delayed until the ok is given."

"UPDATE: Melaleuca Freedom Celebration still being delayed. Search and rescue crews are asking EVERYONE to turn off their cell phones. Emergency crews are having issues communicating with one another. Divers are still in the water. Please remember the missing person in your thoughts and prayers."

Again, people are supportive.  One person's life is more important than a fireworks show, right?

...right?

I begin to hear fireworks in the distance.  Not the cheap illegal ones my neighbors are lighting off...  professional ones.

For every one person begging for the show to continue 100 wanted the delay, until the missing person was found.  People were being advised to power down their cell phones (as emergency crews were having trouble communicating with each other) but having fireworks booming above is ok??

But the show must go on.

After all, you have 100,000 people here, waiting for the show.  Well, 99,999 I guess.  Why disappoint them, just because of 1 person?

Shame on you, Melaleuca.  Shame on this town for letting the celebration continue despite the ongoing tragedy.  And shame on the person who greenlighted the show, knowing of the missing person and the continuing search.  Whether that was Frank Vandersloot himself or someone in Melaleuca management, they should be ashamed of themselves...

(...unless the fireworks provided enough light to find the missing person.  If that happened, then bravo for aiding in the rescue.  BUT I BET THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN!!!)

God dammit I hate this town.  I can't wait to get the hell out and never return.

Send In The Clowns? Not In Idaho Falls.

It's true, it's true.  Idaho Falls does not like clowns.

Well, it's not as simple as that, but it never is...

Idaho Falls has its annual 4th of July Parade coming up, and there will be no clowns at the event.

You see, the clowns use golf carts to hold the candy they pass out, as well as store the various magic tricks they do along the parade route.  There is a ban on golf carts for parade use, and now the city is enforcing it.

According to a recent news article, their reasoning is 'if we let the clowns use them, then we have to let everyone use them.'

(Wow, I haven't heard that line since I was chewing gum in my 4th grade classroom.  The next day, I brought enough gum for the rest of the class, so I can chew in peace... and got detention...)

This will be the first time Idaho Falls will be 'clown-less' in 29 years.  Even though the clowns provide their own golf carts and are fully insured, it's a liability thing.

...my guess is someone on the Chamber of Commerce just doesn't like clowns, and has been trying to do this for years...

What's next?  Imposing a ban on Fez's, so the Shriners go away as well?

Beep beep, bitches...

Now, the 4th in Idaho Falls is a big thing.  I did a post last year on their fireworks show, touted as 'the biggest fireworks celebration west of the Mississippi river.'  It is hosted by local business owner and super-villain philanthropist Frank Vandersloot, so the show is not without controversy.

However, people come from hundreds of miles away to see this show.  It is a prime example of America's love for blowing shit up our country.

Of course, local businesses are capitalizing on our need to barbecue, drink gallons of soda/beer, and picnic to our hearts' content.  Take this beer display at Walmart for example:

'Murrica.....  FUCK YEAH!!!

Well, 'tis the season I guess.  As for me, I'm going to a baseball game on the 4th.  I'll be passing on the parade, mourning for the clowns, and celebrating my freedom by not giving a damn.

...and probably wearing this shirt... (because I can)

Frank Vandersloot in the Spotlight Again (Surprise Surprise, NOT in a Good Way...)

Even though I am still considered a 'newbie' when it comes to Eastern Idaho, I make sure to be aware of my surroundings.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Idaho Falls is the epicenter of Melaleuca, founded by Frank Vandersloot.

Frankie is currently the national finance co-chair for the Mitt Romney campaign, which puts him under a media microscope.

Thanks to said microscope, I found this article from Glenn Greenwald and salon.com.  It's a fun read about how Mr. Vandersloot uses his company and influence to further political and ideological agendas, and make people who criticize him, his company or his questionable practices vanish.  In short, his team of lawyers will threaten to shut you down if they don't like what they see.

Heh, by simply linking this article and typing these few paragraphs, I could very well be putting myself in their sights.  Folks, if lostinidaho.me disappears, you'll know why.

Anyway, read the article.  This is what I live with, this is the thumb I currently live under because I am an Idaho Falls resident.  It's insane, but it's reality.  I am all for the entrepreneurial spirit, and for the letter of the law.  But using money to shut people up seems a bit unfair.  I can't afford to hire a legal team to match his, so if I get a demand letter I'll buckle.  I'm one of millions (dare I say it, the 99%??) who would be forced to do the same.

Is that justice?

Have you read the article yet?

Added:  Another reporter has picked up the story, and the seeds of discord are spreading.  What now, Frank?

Added:  Vandersloot's rebuttal in the Idaho Statesman, including a lengthy statement.  Enjoy the read.  I chuckled, especially when me mentioned his liberal stance on environmental issues...

The Politics Behind July 4th in this Town (and much much more)

If a post were ever to get me sued or whacked, this would be it.

You see, this town more or less lives and dies by one central corporation, and the corporation lives and dies by the man in charge.

This town, to me, seems like it's run by Melaleuca.

Melaleuca is a MLM business centered on tea-tree oil, and all-natural eco-friendly products.  Think of it like a 'greener' Amway.  Well, it's based in this town, and it plays as the cornerstone of the local economy.

The man in charge is Frank Vandersloot.  Depending on who you ask, he is one of the most loved (or reviled) men in this town.

Why?

Well, the local baseball team plays at Melaleuca Field.

The annual fireworks show is sponsored by Melaleuca (and they like to remind you as often as possible).

Most of the top radio stations in the area are owned by Mr. V.

Melaleuca buys full-page spreads in the local paper whenever they wish to share their message with the world.

In recent elections, Melaleuca bought ad time on television and radio to make fun of the candidates they didn't like, even though some major bending of the rules were made (link, and it's a doozie)

In a nutshell, from the point of view of someone that's relatively new to the area, Melaleuca owns this town, and probably a good chunk of Eastern Idaho.

I guess when you have the money, you can more or less make the rules.  You don't like the kind of music they're playing on the radio?  Buy the radio stations.  

Don't agree with a development project?  Spend as much money as you need to in order to thwart your opponents.

It goes into the "If I had enough money to do whatever I want, what would I do?" mentality.  Would I try to have the entire community under MY thumb like he appears to be doing?  I don't know.

I personally don't like the company because I don't like the guy who is running it.  If you want to be influential in your community, there are more noble ways of doing it than buying as much of the town as you can.  I have my religious and political beliefs too, but if I had millions to burn I still wouldn't impose my values on others as Mr. V seems to do.

If I were sponsoring events, sports teams, or just being philanthropic in general, I wouldn't do it with such a "LOOK AT ME, AREN'T I GENEROUS???" attitude.

It's almost like they want you to worship them.  Oh glorious and generous Melaleuca, if I pray to you will you provide?  If I drink your koolaid, will you shelter me?  Death to the non-believers!!

I'm spouting off my opinions to you in a way he does to others, but I'm not simply saying "believe what I say because I'm saying it."  Look at this piece from a local news station, and see if he gives you bad vibes as well...

Don't sue me, oh righteous and all-powerful Melaleuca.  I'm poor.

So this 4th, I'm not sure what I want to do.  Sure, fireworks are nice, but by watching the show I feel like I'm supporting the Evil Empire, or validating their causes by showing them I appreciate it when they 'give back to the community.'  In my eyes, those fireworks come with a price, and not just the Chinese child-labor factories from whence they came.